Counterspell

From MTG Salvation Wiki

Counterspell is a blue card that appeared in all Core Sets from Alpha through 7th Edition, as well as Ice Age, Tempest, and finally in Mercadian Masques. Its simple ability to counter a target spell for just made it a staple in many blue decks. Counterspell was first excluded from Core Sets in 8th Edition and eventually supplanted in 10th Edition by the more expensive Cancel from Time Spiral.

In a more general sense, counterspell can also refer to any card with the ability to counter or simply preventing or just delaying a spell from resolving.

A distinction is made between so called hard counters and soft counters. In general a hard counter is any card that stops a spell from resolving and it is not possible to play that spell again. A soft counter on the other hand is a card that stops a spell from resolving, but gives the opponent recourse, such as the possibility to pay additional mana to have the spell still resolve. Counterspells that also have a limited range of targets or that require additional resources are also called soft counters.

For example, Counterspell, Hinder, Dissipate and Dismiss are all considered hard counters. Mana Leak, Spell Snare, Delay, Remand, Negate and Abjure on the other hand are called soft counters.

R&D employs a rule of thumb in which hard counters require in their mana costs (though some exceptions such as Vex exist).^[1]

[edit] References